Those with a thirst for wine and a curiosity about...

October 15, 1992|By William Rice.

Those with a thirst for wine and a curiosity about comparative tasting will have an extraordinary opportunity to sample prestige bottlings this weekend during the three-day Midwest International Wine Exposition.

The public is invited to participate Saturday and Sunday at the Chicago Cultural Center, 77 E. Randolph St. Events on Monday will be for the wine trade only.

The centerpiece of the Expo will be a ``grand tasting`` from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday and 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday. More than 200 domestic and imported wines will be presented at the standup tasting.

Admission to this tasting and two seminars will be $45 a day. There will be additional fees for workshops, lunches and wine dinners on both days. For further information call 708-678-0071.

- The fall winemaker dinner series at Montana Street Cafe, 2464 N. Lincoln Ave., will continue Mondaywith a multicourse meal accompanied by wines from Napa Valley`s Raymond Vineyards. On Oct. 26 the featured winery will be Silver Oak Cellars. The dinners, which will be preceded by a 5:30 p.m. reception with the winemaker, will be $40 a person all inclusive. For reservations call 312-281-2407.

- The Chicago Wine Co. will hold a fine wine auction, tasting-dinner and tasting of 1989 red Bordeaux wines during the weekend of Oct. 24-25 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. The first two sessions of the auction will begin at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Pre-auction tastings will be held from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. and 2 to 2:30 p.m. Lunch with wine will be served from 1 to 2 p.m. Admission to the two tasting sessions and lunch will be $60.

Saturday night there will be a formal tasting of eight Burgundies from Domaine Leroy, followed by a champagne reception and a multicourse black-tie dinner. The dinner wines will be 1983 Puligny Montrachet, 1964 Echezeaux (both from Leroy) and 1980 Chateau Yquem. The evening will be priced at $450 a person, or $725 for two persons sharing each pour. To attend the tasting only will be $200 a person, or $225 for a shared pour.

Sunday`s first event, the Bordeaux tasting, will begin at 11 a.m. and feature 30 wines. Admission will be $30 a person. The third session of the auction will follow the tasting. For reservations call 708-647-8789.

- Sam`s Wine Warehouse, 1000 W. North Ave., will sponsor a Champagne and sparkling wine night Monday, Oct. 26, featuring 30 different wines from France, Italy and the United States. Admission to the 6 to 9 p.m. event, $30 a person, will include a buffet. For reservations call 312-664-4394.

- Chef/owner Barry Wine of New York City`s four-star Quilted Giraffe restaurant will present an eight- to 10-course keiseki (tasting) meal at Charlie Trotter`s restaurant, 816 W. Armitage Ave., Monday, Oct. 26. The meal, after a 6:45 p.m. reception, will offer Wine`s interpretations of Japanese dishes. Sommelier Larry Stone has selected sake and wine to go with the various courses. The dinner will be $125 a person, including tax and tip. For reservations call 312-248-6228.